Vertical filing system



April 28, 1925..

w. A. RINGLER VERTICAL FILING SYSTEM Filed April 15, 1921' '4 Shets Sheet 1 ll'lll llll l'l- A ril 28, 1925.

W. A. RINGLER VERTICAL FILING SYSTEM Filed April 15, 1921 0 fig/0, o/zlm/o/ofh ATTORNEYS April 28, 1925.

Patented Apr. 28 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. BINGLEB, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO GLOBE 'WEBNICKE 00., OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ACOBPOBATION OFOHIO.

VERTICAL FILING SYSTEM.

' Application filed April 15, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. RINGLZEB,

a citizen of the United 'States, residing in the'city and county of Philadelphia, State 5 of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Vertical F fling-System, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention comprehends a novel construction and arrangement of a visible l filing system wherein the filing units are filed vertically and when they are raised each filing unit opens out laterally so as to assume substantially a horizontal position and the upper faces of the cards are readily accessible to the operator.

It further e'omprehends a novel construction and arrangement of a filing unit and a novel construction of a housing or cabinet to receive the unit which latter may. be employed either with or without a follower block as desired.

It further comprehends a novel construction of a filing unit wherein a guide memher is employed to which the frame is mov- 25 ably connected and adapted to detachably carry the various cards and their adjuncts.

Other novel features of construction and advantage will hereinafter more clearly appear in the detailed description.

3 For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying tical filing system, embodying my invention,

one of the filing units being shown as partially Withdrawn from the cabinet.

Figure 2 represents a perspective view similar to Figure 1 showing one of the filing units as having been raised sufficiently to permit the I card-carrying frame. to be presented substantially horizontally above the cabinet. I

Figure 3 represents, in front elevation, a guide plate.

Serial N0. 461,723.

Figure 4 represents, in front elevation, a card-carrying frame.

Figure 5 represents'a section on line 5-5 of Figure 2 with the frames in closed position.

Figure 6 represents a section on line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 represents, in perspective, another embodiment of my invention with the filing units in their closed position. Figure 8 represents a perspective view similar to Figure 7 but showing one of the filing units in its open position.

Figure 9 represents a section on line 9-9 of Figure'8.

Figure 10 represents a section on line 10- v10 of Figure 7.

Figure 11 represents a section on line 11- 11 of Figure 8.

Figure 12 represents, in perspective, the filing unit guide member in detached position.

Figure 13 represents, in perspective and in detached position, a filing unit with the card carrying frame in its open position.-

Figure 14 represents a section online 14- 14 of Figure 12.

Figure 15 represents a top plan View of the card-carrying frameof the filing unit in detached position.

Figure 16 represents a top plan view of another embodiment of a card-carrying frame which is employed in conjunction with the embodiment seen in Figures 17 to 22 inclusive.

Figure 17 represents, in perspective, a vertical filing system, with the filingunits in closed position.

Figure 18 represents a perspective ,view similar to Figure 17 but showing one of the filing units in its open position.

Figure 19 re resents a section on line 19- 19 ofFigure 17 v Figure 20 represents a section on line 20- 20 of Figure 18 showing the manner in which the upward movement of a filing unlt is limited.

Figure 21 represents a section on line 21- 21- of Figure 17. i

, Figure 22 represents, in perspective and in detached position, one of the partition members employed.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.-

sis

Referring to the drawings.

Referring first to the embodiments seen in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, 1 designates a cabinet the dimension of which may vary widely in practice but which is provided with an open top which in proximity to its opposite marginal edges is provided with the laterally extending stop members 2 which are' removable and secured in position by means of fastening devices 3 which are detachable in order that the stop members 2 which are in the form of rods or bars may be removed and thus permit the removal of any or all of the filing units 4. Each filing unit is provided with a guide member 5, which, as illustrated, is in the form of a plate preferably of sheet metal having its bottom marginal edge laterally deflected to form a supporting flange 6 and the side marginal edges are deflected, as at 7, in order to form the guide grooves 8. The plate is cut away at the upper corners, as at 9, and portions of the plate are deflected over, as indicated at 10, to close the top of the grooves 8 and thus serve as stops for the ends 11 of a hinged rod 12 which latter consists of a rod extending substantially straight and then deflected upon itself to. form guide portions 11, the free. ends of the rods being loosely anchored within the overturned flange 13 of the card-carrying frame 14 of the filing unit. The guide portions 11 are retained within the grooves 8 so that relative upward and downward movement of the card-carrying frame 14 with respect to its guide plate is limited.

The marginal edge of the frame 14 op posite the overturned flange 13 is flanged over, as indicated at 15, in order to retain the cards 16 in osition. These cards may be connected witthe frame in any desired manner so that they can be slidably mounted therein. One of the marginal edges 17 of the frame is also preferably deflected so that when the cards are assembled they will lie beneath the frame. In this form of my invention when the frame of a filing unit is drawn upwardly by taking hold of its tab 18, the guide portions -11 will slide in the groove 8 until limited by the stop flanges 10 and the frame will then when released drop into substantially a horizontal position, as seen in Figure 2, at which time all of the cards in the filing unit are readily accessible and visible to the operator, whereas the upper edge of the guide plate 5 extends a ove thecabinet in a vertical o'sition.

The stop flanges 10 are a desired distance below the top of the guide plate 5 so that when the card-carrying frame 14 is again raised to its vertical position turning on the rod 12 as a fulcrum the upwardly extending portion of the guide member 5 will cause all of the cards carried by the frame to be retained within the frame so that the frame and its guide member will drop into its vertical position within the cabinet and the cards cannot rotrude so as to be injured or to prevent suc movement of a filing unit.

In the embodiment of my invention thus described the cards when in filed position are retained vin the frame in a.-'sidewise position. T1

Referring now to the embodiment seen in Figures 7 to 15 inclusive, I have shown another form of my invention in which the filing unit is constructed in a different manner although the generic principle involved is the same, and in this embodiment I also illustrate a follower block although, as will be apparent, no follower block is necessary in case thecabinet is filled with the filing units.

In this embodiment 19 illustrates the cabinet having an open top provided on opposite sides with the stop members 20 which are fixed if a follower block is employed.

2'1 designates the follower block which is slidable beneath the stop members 20 and provided with a lateral extension 22 on which the card-carrying frame 23 of a filing unit 24: can rest when the frame is in its open position. The follower block is prevented from tilting by its engagement with the bottom of the box. Each filing unit 24 is provided with a guide member 25 in the form of a plate having connected to it at opposite ends the vertically-extending spaced straps 26, the upper and lower ends of which are secured to the plate in any desired manner.

These guide straps 26 at their upper ends terminate below the top of the guide member 25 which latter is recessed, as at 27. The card-carrying plate 23 has hinged to its bottom a bar 28 having the outwardly extending lugs 29 which extend into the spaces formed between the guide straps 26 and the guide member 25, the'straps 26, serving as guides for the lugs 29 and also to limit their upward and downward movement relatively to the guide member 25.

In this form of my invention, the opera-- tion is the same as that already described except that the follower block is employed and its position adjusted when it is desired to insert or remove a complete filing unit from its cabinet.

Referring now to the embodiment seen in Figures 16 to 22 inclusive, I have shown another form of my invention in which instead of having a card-carrying frame connected with its guide bar at one side it is connected at one end with its guide bar.

In this embodiment, it is simply necessary to employ a partition or plate 30 which is cut away, as at 31, in order that it will be slidable, in the cabinet 32 beneath the stop members 33 on opposite sides of the cabinet near its upper edge. In this embodiment,

23" designates a card-carrying frame whichhas hinged to one end a bar 34 having the outwardly extending lugs 35 which are stopped in their upward movement by contact with the stop members 33, which will be apparent.

- In this embodiment, I may if desired, employ a follower block 36 having a lateral extension 37 on which a frame may rest when in open position. Each frame is provided with a tab 38 which may receive any desired indexing tabulation. In this form of my invention when a card-carrying frame is raised and moved into its open position, the cards are positioned longitudinally of the box instead of laterally as in the other embodiments described herein and necessarily must be normally in a standing-up position in the box;

It will now be apparent that I have devised .a new and useful vertical filing system which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above descrip tion, and while I have, in the present instance, shown and described preferred embodiments thereof which will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that such embodiments are susceptible, of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventionor sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a card filing system, a cabinet, cardcarrying frames disposed vertically within said cabinet and adapted when raised to be supportedlaterally above said cabinet to render the cards carried by said frames accessible, said frames having guide members which when in raised position extend "above the cabinet.

2. In a card filing system, a cabinet, filin units disposed vertically within said cabinet and each consisting of a guide member and a card-carrying frame slidably connected with it and adapted to raise said guide memher after the frame is raisedto a predetermined extent, the card-carryin member being movable into a lateral position when raised to render the cards carried by it'accessible.

3. In a card filing system, a cabinet, filing units disposed vertically within said-cabinet and each consisting of a guide member and a card-carrying frame movably connected with it and adapted to raise said guide memher when the frame is raised, the card-carrying member bein movable into a lateral position when raised to render the 'cards carried by it accessible, said guide-member serving to move the cards within the frame when the frame is moved into the cabinet.

4. In a card filing system, acabinet, filing units within said cabinet and each comprising a uide plate and a card-carrying frame slidab y connected with it and adapted to raise said guide plate when the frame is raised, said cabinet having means tolimit' the upward movement of said guide plate and saidgframe when raised being adapted to be moved into a lateral position to render all of its cards accessible. Q

5. In a card filing system, a cabinet having stop members on opposite sides, guide members adapted to engage said stop members when raised,card-carrying frameshaving limited vertical movement with respect to said guide members and adapted when raised to be moved into a lateral position, said guide members servin to move protruding parts of the cards 0 a frame within such frame when the latter is moved into vertical position within the cabinet.

6. In a card filing system, a filing unit adapted to be filed vertically and comprising a guide plate having ,guide flanges, a card-carrying frame, a member pivotally connected therewith slidably connected with said guide plateand guided by said flanges, said plate having means to limit the upward movement of said pivoted member, and cards removably carried by said frame.

7. In a card filing system, a cabinet having removable stop members at opposite sides, filing units having guide members adapted to prevent the protruding of its cards when such frame is moved into the cabinet.

9. In a card carrying frames filed vertically within the cabinet, a follower block for said frames, said frames when raised being adapted to be moved into a lateral position to expose their cards and the follower block being adapted to support the frames in proximity thereto when so moved.

10. In a card filing system, a. cabinet, cardca-rrying frames'vertically disposed within said cabinet, a guide member for each frame connected thereto for limited relative movement .with res ct to its frame, to cause said guide memhzr to be raisedso as to project above the top of the cabinet when the frame is raised and to permit a frame when raised'to assume a lateral position.

11. In a card filing system, a cabinet, card;

filing system, a cabinet, cardcarrying units disposed in said cabinet and adapted to be pulled from the cabinet, said units comprising a card frame and a guide member to which the frame is articulately connected so as to be swung laterally thereon and expose the cards when the unit is pulled outwardly, said guide member when pulled outwardly extending beyond the articulated connection whereby when the frame is swung into position to enter the cabinet the outwardly extending portion of the guide member will press protruding parts to cards against the face of the frame and thusprevent injury to the cards during movement of the unit into the cabinet.

12. In a card filing system, a cabinet, card-carrying units slidable edgewise into and out of said cabinet, each unit comprising a guide member and a card-supporting frame articulately connected to the member at points located inwardly from the adjacent edge, means for limiting movement of the member outwardly beyond an extent permitting lateral movement of the frame into a position to expose the cards, the portion of the member above the articulated connection serving to prevent protrusion of the cards when the frame is moved edgewise into the cabinet.

WILLIAM A. RINGLER. 

